Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1887-11-16

Inuugntl might ma a place IN one
corner of that gentle heart and cheer
| and comfort her In her great misery.
| Notwithstanding her solicitude and
such constant watchfulness, / had
several times induced this girl to ac-
company me on short fishing excur-
sions out on the lake. We rowed out
nearly to the bank farthest from Bim-
ley's farm, where the pickerel were
always abundant and hungry. Kate,
before leaving her father, would insist
that Tom EIkins should remain close
by him and, in q vicarious way, take
her place as guardian angel.
/ One day, however. as her father was
asleep, exhausted and tired from hay
ing sat up all the night before, she
consented to permit Tom to accom-
pany us, somewhat against her wishes,
/ and very much against mine. had,
on our excursions together, made no
little progress, fatter myself, in the
task Of dispossessing her troubled
mind of the idea that her father medi-
tated any harm to himself. | had sue
ceeded, ! admit in this work, by
adopting methods that seemed best
and pleasantest to myself; methods
that were immensely self-satisfying to
/ the comforter. Hence was averse to
the presence of third party; but
could not help myself, SO ! yielded
gracefully.
We were having an exceptionally
good catch this day, and Hates face
wore flush of excitement, and her
eyes were brighter than usual sat
watching her animated and pretty
| face while Tom was unlocking fine
pickerel from her line. 1t was a very
pretty picture. and was revolving in
my mind some expedient for getting
off with her next time, unknown to
Tom Elkins, that / might have an
opportunity of speaking about some
thing closer to my heart than shiny,
scaly fish.
Bang! bang!" came two sharp re-
ports of a pistol, which the tall, rocky
mountains face replicated with so dis
tinct intervals that they seemed like
four shots.
"Merciful Godp screamed the girl,
attempting to leap from the boat in
the direction of the Bimley home.
seized her as Tom seized the oars,
and as we flew over the still water
Kate clung to me in a terror that made
her unconscious of her actions. She
did not faint. Her eyes were riveted
to mine as the boat skinned toward
the shore. / saw then what made me
happy even In that tragic hour. | read
in her gaze look of love. Not that
floating, airy bliss of happiness that
comes to lovers under more suspicious
circumstances, but deep, appealing,
clinging love; helpless love that be-
seeches an echo to its sadness, a par
taker of its pain. pressed her more
closely. Tom would suppose, if he
supposed anything about it. that was
trying to keep her from ainging her.
self into the lake.
We were soon flying up the slope
toward the house. We rushed in to-
gether. Not soul was there. Out
we went and toward the barn. A wild
cry of pain from Kate, who had out
stripped us in her great haste, told the
story of the rash deed.
Two forms were lying prone upon
the flat rock in front of the great barn
doors. One was Bimley's, the other
was that of his guardian angel. His
guardian angel had relaxed her vigil
ance just long, enough to permit the
contamination of this deadly deed.
Two CHASTITY holes in Bimley's body
revealed the outlet of his tired life.
Poor Kate, orphaned, shocked, sense
less clasped the nerveless hand of her
father.
We took her up tenderly and carried
her into the house. where she soon re-
covered. A low moan was the only
reply she made to my comforting
words.
On the fat rock read these words
craven there. John Bimley had
scratched the date with an old knife:
John Bimly, September II. 1886"
Kate suddenly appeared around an
angle of the barn and said:
.'Uncle Tom, don't put the name on
the rock! Don't, please"
There was real terror in her tones
that startled Tom into examining her
face. 1t was blanched, and her lip
quivered as she stood there with one
deprecating hand raised.
''Why not?" demanded Tom, sur
prised.
"Oh! I can't tell you. But please
don't cut the name there!
..But I've promised would, and
John will be furious if refuse now.
"Well," said the girl, sadly turning
away, perhaps you're right"
From Tom now learned the cause OF
Bimley's depression. 1t seems he was
soon to leave his farm-driven out by
the inexorable mortgage. Failure to
meet his payments of interest, short
crops and combination of misfor-
tunes had eliminated in the loss of
the property.
My heart ached as ! looked after
this motherless girl, left not only desc
late by the withdrawal of mothers
loving care, but left also with the fear
full burden of a fathers living, double
sorrow pressing very heavily upon her
young shoulders, and yelling her
youthful face with premature sadness.
High up on one of the verdure-clad
foothills / saw the bowed figure of
John Bimley moving slowly toward
the summit. He paused at the top,
and, looking back with one searching
glance, he disappeared down the
further side. was about turning my
attention to the caryer's work near
me, when, / saw the form of Kate pass
swiftly and noiselessly out of the un-
dergrowth at the top of the hill, and
also pass out of sight down the other
side.
ssJohn's guardian angel" said Tom
Elkins, without stopping the thuds Of
his mallet, in reply. apparently, to my